Clasp



E. L. JCHNSON Ei' AL CLASP Filed May 16, 1934 f ff TI'URNEYS.

Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASP Emil L. Johnson and Olof Lundsten, Attleboro, Mass.

This invention relates to a clasp, and has for -one of its objects the provision of a double acting clasp which may individually engage overlapping edges of a garment tol secure them in a certain definite position, whereby the amount of opening of the garment such as at the V at the neck may be adjusted to suit the desire of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to utilize an intermediate member as one of the portions cooperating with two oppositely acting jaws.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clasp which by reason of its construction permits of positioning a garment in various desired relations which could not be accomplished had it but two jaws between which all of the material to be gripped must be placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a better holding action between two overlying portions of the garment by individually gripping each of these portions to hold them in desired relation through the clasp to which they are bound.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective View showing our clasp in position on a garment of the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp partially open;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the intermediate member;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the mounting members;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the spring;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the fabric in the clasp;

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified view showing a different shaping of the clasp;

Fig. 8 illustrates this modication partially opened.

It is usual in womens garments that the neck opening is secured by a pin whereby this opening may be adjusted to varying sizes to fit different wearers. A pin will make a hole in the garment, and it is frequently desired to: avoid the use of such a piercing member; and in order that this may be avoided, we have provided a double acting clasp which will grip each individual edge of the garment and secure the edges in the desired relation one to the other and permit the clasp with its ornamental jaw to be arranged horizontally on the dress, such as illustrated in Figure 1, and we may also vary the shaping of the parts of the clasp so as to obtain a horizontal gripping of one of the parts and a vertical gripping of another of the parts; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which Y these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, II) designates the intermediate member provided with ears I2 bent up from the stock of the member III and pierced as at I3 to receive the trunnion I4 on the jaw member I I to provide a hinge or pivoted connection for these members. The jaw I I is bent at an angle to its general extent as at I5 to engage a leaf spring- I6 positioned between the ears I2 and notched as at Il to receive the ears and be held in position thereby. This spring will engage the edge of the bent portion I5 in such a manner as to tend to swing the jaws II about its pivot toward the intermediate member ID when approximating closed position, and thus there will be gripped between the jaw II and the intermediate member I0 any material which is chosen to be placed between them. Spurs I8 are raised from the stock of the jaw member I I and serve to better grip the fabric between these members to hold the same against slipping. This fabric is shown in gripped position at 20 in Figure 6.

At the opposite end of the intermediate member I0 the stock is bent as at 2l and provided with trunnions 22 which are received in openings 2'I in ears 23 extending at right angles to the body portion 24 of a mounting member to which the ornament designated generally 25 is secured. A leaf spring 26 notched at its ends as previously described, is positioned between the ears 23 and serves to engage the edge of the deflected portion 2l and cause a relative pivotal movement about the hinge formed by the trunnions and the ears 23 to cause the ornament 25 and the intermediate member I 0 to move toward each other and grip any fabric as 28 between them. Spurs 29 may be raised from the stock of this middle member for the better gripping of the fabric.

By this arrangement, we provide a double acting clasp such that we may clasp the edge 3U of the garment between the members I0 and II, and then with the ornament jaw open adjust the other edge 3l of the dress, as desired, along the intermediate member I0 and then swing down, the ornament or jaw 25 so as to clamp these edges of the dress in desired relation. By this arrangement, a very secure locking of the two edges is provided, and a clasp which may be positioned along the edge of the garment so that any desired degree of opening may be secured.

This clasp 32, as shown in Figure 1, is in a horizontal position, but in some instances it may be desired to provide that the ornament extend in a vertical position, and in Figures '7 and 8, we have illustrated a construction which is designed for this purpose. In these figures, the intermediate member is designated 33 which is in the shape of a cross having horizontally extending arms 34 and vertically extending arms 35. A jaw 36 is hinged in a manner previously described, to the under side of the intermediate member 33 so as to swing thereagainst, while on the front of the intermediate member, we have hinged an ornamental plate 31 which may swing against this front surface about a pivot at right angles to the pivotal axis of the other jaw member. In this particular case, however, We have shown a slightly different hinge in that it has a closed or rolled over portion 40 having a protuberance 4l to engage the spring.

Suitable spurs 38 and 39 are provided on the intermediate member and the back jaw 3S for better gripping the fabric between the intermediate plate and either of the jaw members. By this arrangement there may be a horizontal clasping of a piece of fabric on the under side, while there will be a vertically extending ornament clamping the overlying portions of the garment. This is particularly desirable where there is a cross over which extends up rather high on the garment.

It Will be realized that various shapes may be provided in the formation of a double acting clasp of this character, and that various ornamental conflgurations may be desired.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but we desire it to be understood that We reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A clasp comprising an intermediate member and jaw members hinged thereto to swing against opposite sides thereof, said jaws being swingable about axes at right angles.

2. A clasp comprising an intermediate member, a jaw member hinged on one side to swing against one surface of Vthe intermediate member, and a jaw member hinged on the other side of said intermediate member to swing against the other side of said intermediate member, said hinges being at right angles to each other.

3. A clasp comprising an intermediate member, and jaw members hinged thereto to swing against opposite sides thereof, and resilient means to urge said jaws toward the intermediate member when in closed position, said jaws being swingable about axes at right angles.

4. A clasp comprising an intermediate member, and jaw members hinged thereto to swing against opposite sides thereof, and a leaf spring to urge said jaws toward the intermediate member when fi in closed position, said jaws being swingable about axes at right angles.

EMIL L. JOHNSON. OLOF LUNDSTEN. 

